Preliminaries
- Background materials online
- Electronic survey
Week One (September 15 - 19)
The first week of the forum will provide participants with an
introduction to the processes by which Universal Service rules are
developed, an overview of the online materials provided by the PUC, and
an introduction to networking activities under way in the schools and
libraries of Pennsylvania.
- Goals of the PUC
- Needs of Pennsylvania schools and libraries
- Information that educators and librarians can supply to the PUC
- PUC procedures on Universal Service
- Networking activities in Pennsylvania
- Student use of the Internet
- Administrative use of the Internet
- Use of the Internet by teachers and librarians
- Impact of Internet use on the learning environment
- Networking partnerships
Week Two (September 22 - 26)
The second week will examine the report by the Subcommittee on Schools
and Libraries of the Universal Service Task Force of the Pennsylvania
PUC. Teachers, librarians and other seminar participants will have the
opportunity to comment upon specific provisions of the Subcommittee's
report and to offer suggestions for changes or additions to this
report.
- Report of the PUC Task Force
- Suggestions to the PUC on Universal Service
- How other states are dealing with Universal Service issues
- Other measures under PUC jurisdiction
- Possibilities for public participation in other PUC proceedings
Week Three (September 29 - October 3)
The third week will deal with the FCC's ruling on Universal Service and
its relevance for schools and libraries in Pennsylvania. These
discussions will include information on how Pennsylvania organizations
can take advantage of the discounted services that will be available
under this ruling. The third week's discussion will conclude with
recommendations for the Link to Learn program so that a combination of
Link to Learn funding, Universal Service discounts and other available
funding sources will be able to meet adequately the educational needs
of Pennsylvania's students and teachers.
- Current status of the FCC's ruling on Universal Service
- Eligibility for discounts under the federal program
- Application procedures
- Link-to-Learn and Universal Service
- Other state programs
- Future activities under Link-to-Learn
Week Four (October 6 - October 10)
An extra week has been added to the seminar to allow PaPUC and PA
Department of Education staff to help in the completion of an
authoritative Frequently Asked Questions list.
- Frequently Asked Questions on Universal Service
- Policy recommendations for the PaPUC
